PICTURES AND VIDEO: Britain First protest against Dudley mosque plans

Warning, the following video may contain strong language.

Activists moved through the town centre holding union flags aloft, stopping at Dudley Council house.

Leader of the movement Paul Golding insisted the controversial mosque would not be built.

The protest was largely peaceful, although police were forced to intervene on a few occasions as scuffles broke out.

Some people in the town centre made their feelings towards the group clear as they passed while some Muslims were visibly upset by ant-Islam speeches on the steps of the council house.

A counter demonstration was also held by anti-fascism groups, while a handful of military veterans confronted members of Britain First as they passed.

Mr Golding insisted Britain First is not racist but were in the town to support the people of Dudley who oppose the mosque.

He also threatened to personally bury a pig at the mosque site.

The roads in Dudley town centre remained open during the day and the march did not have the sort of impact the EDL's protest in February did, when 29 people were arrested.

Dudley Council also offered free parking in the town centre in a bid to convince shoppers not to stay away.

Mr Golding said: "Britain First has come here today to show solidarity with the people of Dudley.

"That mosque has not been constructed yet and I can tell you now it won't be."

"While West Midlands Police has no power to ban people from exercising their democratic right to express their opinions through protest, we have been planning the policing operation for months," said Chief Superintendent Chris Johnson, responsible for policing in the borough.

"The events were much smaller in scale than previous protests and our operational response reflected that."

Local officers have been meeting regularly with organisers, councillors, business leaders, community representatives and others to share information on the march and counter protest.

"Throughout all of our meetings we have been sharing information with traders and residents.

"To minimise the impact on the town and local people we and our colleagues at Dudley Council ensured there were no fixed road closures or diversions. The council even lifted car park fees in the town centre's pay and display sites. This, along with the changes we made to the initially proposed route of the march, ensured more businesses chose to remain open."

Talking about the day Police and Crime Commissioner for the West Midlands, David Jamieson, said: "Every day in the West Midlands, we are fortunate to celebrate our diverse and thriving community. We respect each other's values and protect the right to live in harmony.

"Saturday's peaceful demonstrations upheld the right of everybody to peacefully demonstrate. It also illustrated to those who took part in the rally that it is the diversity in Dudley that forges a bond and makes us a strong, united and respectful community.

"I want to thank the people of Dudley and their police officers, who have a difficult job to do, for maintaining a calm and respectful attitude throughout the demonstrations."

To allow the safe movement of protesters through the town, a number of rolling road blocks were put into place.

No arrests were made during the operation although a 15-year-old boy was detained to prevent a breach of the peace. He was released without charge just ten minutes later.

There will be a post-event public meeting at 6pm on Tuesday 19 May at Dudley council house.

Dudley Council's Chief Executive, Sarah Norman, said: "We have worked closely with police in the build up and throughout today, and thankfully today's operation ran smoothly.

"We will continue to liaise with our police colleagues over the coming days as we recognise events like this can lead to an increase in community tension. We have a proud tradition across Dudley of people of all backgrounds getting on well and we have no doubt, this will continue to be the case."